Hamburger mold



y 1930- c. c. COMSTOCK 1,757,447

HAMBURGER MOLD Filed March 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 6, 1930. c. c.coMsTocK HAMBURGER MOLD Filed March 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 2 m k aa, 3W L W NNU A .F. W M x 5 c 5 1 .j 5 m 5/.i" ll A\m a J Patented May6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orr cs CHARLES C. COMSTOGK, OF SEATTLE,WASHINGTON, ASSIGN'OR F ONE-HALF TO ALFRED R. MATLOCK, OF SEATTLE,WASHINGTON HAMBURGER MOLD Application filed March 5, 1928. Serial No.259,133.

My invention relates to an improvement in hamburger molds andpartlcularly to a press for molding a quantity of hamburger into cakesof a desired size, such as are used in large numbers in roadsiderestaurants.

, Another object is to provide a mold which may easily be withdrawn fromthe hamburger after pressing.

A further object is to provide means for preventing escape of hamburgerfrom the sides of the mold.

With these objects and others, which will be ascertained from aninspection of the following'specification and claims, my inventioncomprises the novel parts and combinations thereof, shown in theaccompanying drawings, described in the specification, and particularlydefined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention in the formwhich is now preferred by me, it being understood that the principles ofthis invention as defined in the claims may be embodied in variousmechanical forms.-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, showing a quantity ofhamburger in place before being pressed.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figur 1, showing the hamburger beingpressed.

Figure 3 is view similar to Figure 2 showing the hamburger after beingpressed and with the upper mold unit raised.

Figure 41s a face view of my presser plate.

Figure 5 is an elevation partly in section on line 55 of Figure 4.

In providing a suitable mold to form the hamburger H into cakes, I mayprovide a base 2 having-a circular recess 21 of a size equal to the sizeof the hamburger cake desired. This base 2 may be supported by anintegral flange 11, projecting from the main frame 1. The base, whichmaybe. made of wood, may be secured to the flange in any suitable manner.

In order to place the hamburger in position in the recess 21, it hasbeen found desirable to employ a sheet of wax paper to support thehamburger, and in the operation of the press this paper will stand thestrain without tearing.

As a means of pressing the hamburger and spreading it, I provide acircular presser plate 3, which I desire to rotate as well as press inorder to release the hamburger from the presser 3. In carrying out thisidea I may provide a shaft 4, mounted in suitable spaced guides 12 castintegral with the main frame 1. It is desired to stop the shaft 4 shortof.the presser 3 and I therefore r0- vide an axial bore 41 in the lowerend 0 the shaft 4. A shaft 31, of a size less than that of shaft 4, issecured to the presser in any suitable manner, and is shown inFigure 5,as having an enlarged head 32. The upper end of the shaft 31 is receivedin the bore 41 of the shaft 4, and held secure by a set screw, 42.

In providing means for pushing the shafts 4 and 31 and the presser 3downward, I may provide a lever 5 pivotally connected to one end of alink 51, as at 52, and With the other end of the link pivoted on themain frame as at 53. As it is desired to rotate the shaft 4, directconnection between the lever 5 and shaft 4 is not'possible, but athimble 44 is provided therefor, which is adapted to fit on the reducedend.4 of the shaft 4. The upper end of the thimble 44 may then bepivotally secured to the lever 5, as at 45. To return the lever 5, shaft4 and presser 3 to upraised position, I may provide an enlarged head 46on the upper end of the shaft 4, with a spring 47 surrounding the shaft4 and interposed between the upper guide 12 and the bead 46.

The rotating of the shaft 4 may be accomplished by any suitable means,as for example a worm gear 6 and pinion 61 connected by a shaft 62through a bearing 13 in the main frame to an electric motor M. The mainframe may be cast so as to enclose the worm drive on five sides. Thesixth side, as for example the plate 14, may be secured to the closedsides in any suitable manner. The plate 14 may carry a bearing for theshaft 62. In order to slidably secure the WOIl11 gear 6 on the shaft 4,I may provide a vertical slot 48 in the shaft 4 and a key 6' in the gear6, the slot being of sufiicient length to correspond with the extreme upand down' movement of the shaft 4:. I

To prevent escape of the hamburger when the presser 3 is in operation,an inverted cup 7 of greater depth than the thicknessof the presser 3'isprovided. The cup 7 has an interal boss, 71 surrounding the shaft 4 witha Iree sliding fit. A spring 8, interposed between the end of shaft 4and the cup 7 within the space between shaft 31 and the boss 71, tendsto force thecup down against the upper surface of the presser 3. Inoperating position the cup 7 comes in contact with the base 2, whichtends to hold the cup against rotation, while the presser 3continues'downward, rotating and pressing the hamburger into the recess21. To prevent particles of hamburger from getting between the sidewalls of the cup and presser, a sliding fit is necessary. In addition,the inner surface of the cup and the outer surface of the presser wallaremade of a diameter less than that of the base recess 21 to helpprevent hamburger be ing forced between the cup and presser. To allowfree movement of the cup and presser vents 72 in the head of the cup areprovided. Ordinarily, if a flat bottomed presser was used to press thehamburger into the mold, a suction would be created when the presser iswithdrawn from the hamburger. To prevent this, radially extending, orspiral grooves 33, are provided to break and eliminate suction. Inaddition, between each groove 33 and the following ridge 34 (see Figures2, 3 and 5) an inclined surface 35 is formed, which acts to force orspread the hamburger outwardly as the presser advances in the directionof the arrow To facilitate supporting of my device upon tables, benches,shelves, etc., the frame 1 may be provided withlugs 15 adapted to spanthe above mentioned supporting members. To hold the device in place aset screw 16 may be employed. a

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a hamburger mold, in combination, a base, a cup, and a presserplate within said cup, means for rotating said plate, and means foradvancin said cup and plate towards the base, the cupieing normally heldagainst rotion upon its contact with the base, and the plate being freeto continue its rotation independently of the cup.

2. In a hamburger mold, in cOmbinat-ion, twocooperating mold units, arotative plate Within and movable axially relative to one of said units,means for continuously rotating said plate, and means for causing saidunits to approach and recede from each other.

3. In a hamburger mold, in combination, two cooperating mold units, arotative plate within one ofsaid units, means for continuously rotatingsaid plate, and means for causing said units to approach and recede fromeach other, said rotative plate being furthermovable towards theopposite mold after closing of the mold.

4. In a hamburger mold, in combination, a base, a cup, and a rotativepresser plate Within said cup, means for rotating said plate, means foradvancing said cup and plate towards the base, the cup being normallyheld against rotation by contact with the base, but the plate being freetocontinue its rotation, and means associated with the presser plate toprevent the sticking of hamburger thereon when the plate is retracted.

5. In a hamburger mold, in combination, a base, a cup, and a rotativepresser plate within'said cup, means for rotating said plate, means foradvancing said cup and plate to- Wards the base, the cup being normallyheld against rotation by contact with the base,

depth in said base on the side facing the cup, the periphery of saidrecess being slightly larger than the inner periphery of said cup, meansfor continuously rotating said plate, and means for advancing said cupand plate towards the base, the cup being normally held against rotationby contact with the base.

7. In a hamburger mold, in combination, a base, an upper mold unitcooperating therewith and comprising a cup and a rotative presser platewithin said cup, a drive shaft having its lower end axially bored, astub shaft projecting from said presser plate and having an endremovably secured within the bore of said main shaft, a springsurrounding said stub shaft and interposed between the main shaft andthe cup, means for rotating the two shafts, and means for advancing theupper mold unit towards the base.

8. In a hamburger mold, in combination, a base, an upper mold unit,comprising a cup and a rotative presser plate within said cup, means forcontinuously rotating said plate, means for advancing said cup and platetowards the base, the side of the plate towards the base having surfacesslightly inclined in the direction of rotation to spread the hamburgerevenly' against the base.

9. In a hamburger mold, in combination, a base, a cup, and a rotativepresser plate within said cup, the cup u being normally heldagainstrotation by contact with the base, means for rotating said presser plateincluding a vertical drive shaft secured to said presser plate, a framehaving guide bearings supporting said shaft, rotatable driving means onsaid shaft, means for advancing merger;

the cup and presser plate towards the base, comprising a thimble mountedon the upper end of said shaft, a lever pivotally supported by one endfrom the frame, said lever being pivoted to said thimble, a bead on theupper end of said shaft and a sprin interposed between said bead andsaid gui a bearing to raise the cup and presser plate. a

10. In a hamburger mold, in combination, a base, avertical shaft andmeans for rotating it, a plate secured to the lower end of said shaft,an inverted cup loosely supplorted on the shaft and normally dependingelow the plate, and means for depressing the shaft, plate and cup, thecup contacting with the base and the plate continuing its downwardmovement independently of the cup.

11. In a mold for plastic substances, in

. combination, a plateand means for rotating it continuously in onedirection, a cup inverted over andextendingbelow saidplate,andmeans todepress said cup and plate to permit the cup to contact with a surfacebeneath it, and said plate to engage a plastic substance upon suchsurface, and to move axially relative to the cup, to approach and recedefrom such surface.

12. In a mold for plastic substances, a plate and means for continuouslyrotating it, the the plate having its under surface generally smooth,but having air "channels extending generally radiall thereof.

13. In a mold or plastic substances, a plate and means for continuouslyrotating it, the plate having its under surface generally smooth, buthaving air channels extending generally radially thereof, the sides ofsaid channels facing in the direction of rotation being of gradualinclination, and the opposite sides being abrupt, but of slight depth.

Signed at Seattle, King County, Washington, this 28th day of February,1928.

CHARLES C. COMSTOCK.

